Remus spent far too much time in the library, missing supper entirely and only leaving when the librarian came skulking by and told him that the first-year's curfew was in ten minutes. Remus threw everything into his bag, checked out the two books he had been using, and ran as fast as he could through the school. A Slytherin Prefect caught him and took points away for running in the hall and points away for being out of the common room after curfew.
"I have two minutes left!" Remus argued.
"And it takes at least four to get to the Gryffindor tower," the Prefect said. "Plus you probably don't even know where it is."
He couldn't exactly say he knew how to get there by scent, and didn't want to risk losing more points by arguing. Complaining under his breath, Remus walked off and as soon as he was out of sight he began running again. He made it to the portrait of the woman in the pink dress just as seven o'clock hit. "Helios's chariot," he panted and the portrait opened up. He climbed in (falling, like usual) and then went up to the dorm. His legs hurt a bit from running so much though soon the pain ebbed away, leaving only the exhaustion. He groaned as he hit his bed and then tore his robes off, tossing them on the floor.
"Stupid Prefect, I made it, I made it, just hated me cause I'm a Gryffindor, that's all it was," he muttered to himself. "Not my fault," he added despite it completely being his fault for running. "If Gryffindor hadn't decided to throw his students into the tower like some sort of fairy-tale...! Who in their right mind puts kids on the seventh floor of a castle?! Nutters, that's who."
"I agree."
Remus screamed and fell out of his bed. He landed on his face and sprang up into a crouched position that looked far too animalistic. He saw Black in the doorway, looking quite bemused. Slowly Remus got into a standing position and began blushing. "W--wasn't--wasn't t-t-talking to--to--"
"I know," Black said, coming into the room. He had a large bruise on one cheek that piqued Remus's curiosity, but the smaller boy remained silent. "Didn't mean to interrupt you. I agree, though. It's insane we're all the way up here." Remus just remained silent, watching Black as he got out a deck of cards from his desk. "James and I are gonna have a game of exploding snaps, want to join?" Remus just blinked. "You know, you can say something. I'm not going to bite."
Remus involuntarily flinched at those mocking words and a choking sort of sound emitted from his mouth. Black raised his eyebrows and took a step back due to the unusual reaction. Not going to bite. Not going to bite! Remus began laughing nervously. Why did he say that?! Black said something but the words didn't reach Remus's brain. Not going to bite! His chest seized up as he finally managed to stop the laughter and then he ran past Black (who was getting quite used to the sight after only two days) and into the bathroom, to hide out in one of the stalls, feeling pathetic and stupid.
*
Nightmares plagued Remus that night. He tossed and turned, hearing Black say those words over and over.
I'm not going to bite, Black said and then Remus began laughing wildly. No, Remus agreed, but I AM! He turned into a wolf and began chasing Black around the dorm room until he had him pinned up against the wall. Remus-wolf gave a vicious snarl and pounced forward--
And Remus woke up screaming. He flailed about, getting tangled up in the sheets, and then lights came on in the dorm, sleepy voices rising. Remus pushed the blankets off of him and sat up, gasping for air. Someone pushed his curtains aside and he flinched back at the sight of Black standing there, and Potter behind him, and then Pettigrew stumbled over and Spinnet and Struthers--all five of them just staring at him.
"S--sorry!" Remus gasped out, clutching his side. "N... n--nightmare. Sorry." He wished they'd go back to their beds and stop looking. Had he said anything...? He didn't think he talked in his sleep but couldn't be sure, and certainly couldn't ask anyone. "Sorry," he said again for good measure.
"Least it's just the weekend tomorrow," Spinnet grumbled before returning to his bed. Struthers followed, and then Potter and Pettigrew withdraw, leaving only Black still watching Remus for a couple seconds and then he, too, left. Remus shut his curtains again and then curled up, clutching his stomach, one fist in his mouth as he tried to stifle the crying.
*
Nobody had set alarms for the morning and Remus didn't wake up until nearly ten, the only one left in the dorm. He got out of bed feeling heavy and tired, the moon pulling at him already. He stumbled around to get dressed, at first in a uniform then remembering it was Saturday. He put on a battered pair of jeans and a long-sleeved top that was one of his newer pieces of clothing, which meant it was far too big for him, the hem hanging past his thighs, the sleeves covering his hands. At home he didn't care about wearing too-big clothes since the only ones who saw him were his parents. Now he felt embarrassed by it. Everyone else had clothes that fit them, it was just another mark setting him apart.
It's even my own fault, he thought as he finally began unpacking his clothes. If I wasn't a werewolf, Dad could have stayed at his better-paying job at the Ministry... As he unpacked he couldn't help but take notice of Black's clothing. It looked expensive and nice. When Remus hung up his robes he couldn't help but reach over and feel a shirt that looked like silk. It felt silky. There were so many clothes though they all looked very similar. They all screamed rich pureblood! Of course, Potter was a rich pureblood too and his clothes were vastly different, at least the outfit he wore on the train had been.
Shaking his head, Remus did his best to find places for his clothes. Black had an exorbitant amount so it helped that Remus hardly had anything. He managed to fit what he had in the drawers and a small corner of the hanging section, then he pulled on socks and shoes (old trainers, falling apart) and went down to the Great Hall, not sure when food stopped being served. Apparently ten-thirty wasn't one of the meal times so, his stomach growling since he missed dinner the night before, Remus began the climb back up to the Gryffindor tower. There he ate candy to fill up his stomach and finished off his DADA essay, and began working on the Herbology one. When noon hit, he happily took his book down to the Great Hall to get some real food.
The afternoon was spent at the back of the library, finishing up all essays he had been given and then just reading a fictional book, losing himself in another world. It was pure bliss, a huge difference from his first two days. Nothing was dumped on him, nobody called him stupid. He was clear in the back so he didn't expect anyone to really come by except since it was the weekend the library was a little more crowded than before. A few students passed by him, giving him odd looks for sitting in the corner on the floor like that. He kept reading, ignoring them.
At supper he was aware of one of the teachers watching him and he glanced up to see Dedenne's eyes on him. He frowned and then bent low over his plate, carefully eating. A few seats down the table he could hear Black and Potter discussing the pranks they had pulled that day which seemed to include itching powder on some toilet seats, and a few dungbombs in the entrance hall (which explained the lingering scent he had caught when he walked through). After Remus filled his belly he went up to his dorm to pack a bag, not sure what to take... not sure what to expect. He didn't know how long he'd be waiting till the moon rose so he took a book. Waiting for the moon was always the worst part. He also packed a chocolate bar, and a bottle of water. Then, after thinking for a few second, picked up a towel.
"What are you doing?"
He spun around as Pettigrew came into the room. "N--nothing."
"What're you doing with that towel?"
Remus's cheeks burned as he stuffed it into his bag (which still smelled a bit like vinegar despite trying to clean it off). "Nothing."
"You're doing something."
Remus slipped the bag over his shoulder and brushed past Pettigrew who watched him go with wide eyes. It was still a good two hours before sunset but he figured he might as well go early. That way he could get himself familiar with his new surroundings. He went through the common room and began making his way through the castle, using his abilities to track the pathways so he wouldn't get lost. Finally he ended up at the hospital wing and crept in. Madame Pomfrey was sitting with another student, making them drink a potion. She glanced over and gave a curt nod to Remus and motioned towards a bed. He took a seat and swung his legs, waiting.
"You're here early," she said after the other student left. Remus stuttered out his reasons why and Pomfrey smiled. "Very well. Come on, then. You didn't bring a cloak?"
"Er," was all he could say.
"Never mind, it's probably still warm enough out."
Pomfrey took him out of the hospital wing and led him out of the castle. He scurried behind her, head down, wondering where they were going. He didn't dare ask. He'd find out soon enough anyway. They went across the grounds, down stone steps, following a pathway... and then went off the pathway, and then finally Pomfrey stopped. Remus looked up, hearing a creaking sound. He gave a gasp and jerked back, tumbling to the ground. The Whomping Willow stood before him, its long branches swaying against the wind.
"Ma'am?" Pomfrey started walking again and Remus slowly got to his feet, heart pounding in fear. "Ma'am?" he asked again as they got closer.
"Wait back there," she said, picking up a rock and stepping a bit closer. "I'm not the best aim but..." She threw the rock and it hit a knot on the tree trunk, and the tree froze. "Come on, hurry up!" Remus ran after her, tripping over his own feet, and then scrambling into a passageway that appeared between some roots. As soon as he did, he heard the tree come back to life behind him. A light appeared on the end of Pomfrey's wand and she smiled. "Follow me."
Remus crept after her, the tunnel rather low-ceilinged. Pomfrey had to have her head ducked low but Remus could walk without trouble. They went down a long ways, Remus not quite sure how long it did take. No wonder they wanted plenty of time, he thought as they finally came to the end where the tunnel sloped up and twisted to one side, leading to what looked like a trap door. Pomfrey pushed it open and climbed out, offering a hand to help pull Remus up.
He stared in amazement when he came through. He was in a house. A proper, real house. Everything looked brand new... including the furniture. Furniture! Remus turned in a circle taking in everything. They were in a living room with a plump couch, two armchairs, a coffee table, pictures on the walls, a fireplace, and a doorway leading into a hallway. He took a few steps into the hall. There were more doorways, a proper door which was closed, and at one end a staircase, at the other what looked like a front door to a house.
"All the windows and doors are blocked off, and boarded up from the outside," Pomfrey explained. "Nobody can get in. You can't get out."
Remus checked out the doorways, first looking into a dining room. "Why is it a house?" he asked, staring at the dining room table with six chairs sitting around it. Another doorway led to a kitchen. Cupboards and counters, sink, a fridge. When he opened the fridge he saw food inside. Fresh food. Behind the one closed door was a small bathroom. Remus twisted the tap and water came out.
"Why wouldn't it be?" Pomfrey asked. "You're going to be spending a lot of time here, you might as well be comfortable."
"But I'll be... a wolf..."
"Not always," she reminded him and Remus nodded. There were the nights he didn't transform at all due to heavy cloud coverage lasting the entire night. "Upstairs is a bedroom, and another bathroom."
Why did they do this? "Was it--already here?"
"No, Albus had it built in August," Pomfrey said.
Remus frowned at her. Why? he wanted to ask. Why would they build me a whole proper house? Why isn't it just a room? Why the tunnel? Why not just have a basement type cellar room under the Whomping Willow?! Why is this so elaborate? I don't deserve all this... a hole in the ground would be fine.
"Albus wasn't sure about the sort of place you transformed in at home, so we did our best."
"Just a... room in the cellar..." He turned around, taking in the fact it was a house. He went upstairs and Pomfrey followed. A bedroom with a four poster bed, similar to his bed in his dorm. A wardrobe. A desk, a chair. Remus went on into a bathroom which was a lot like the one below only this one had a large claw-footed bathtub.
"A room? Like the bedroom?" Pomfrey asked.
"No... there wasn't anything in it." He turned on the tap in the tub, watching water pour out.
"Oh." Pomfrey gave a slight sniffle. "I see. Well. Ah. This place is yours, to, er, transform in."
He turned around, not sure why she seemed so taken aback. Why do I have all of this? I don't understand. "Wh--why is th-there food? In the--kitchen?"
"For the nights you don't transform, if you need something to eat," she said gently. "It's spelled that you shouldn't be able to get it open in, er, as a..."
"Wolf?" he asked and she flinched just ever-so-slightly. "It's fine. We both know what I am."
They went back downstairs and Pomfrey went over to the trap door that led to the tunnel. "I'll be back in the morning," she said then gave his shoulder a maternal sort of squeeze. "You'll be all right?"
"Yes ma'am, thank you." He wasn't sure if it was because he was so tired or overwhelmed by the house or on the cusp of the moon but he was able to talk like a sort of normal person.
Pomfrey gave him a rather anxious look then left, shutting the trapdoor behind her. Remus listened as she went down the passage until he couldn't hear her anymore. Then he went over to the couch and sat down, sinking a little ways into the couch. Furniture, a couch, this is a real house, they built me a house. He looked around in amazement, unable to believe it. At home it was a small room, about the size of the upstairs bathroom here. Big enough that as a wolf he could pace a little bit certainly not very big at all, and completely empty. Just four stone walls, a stone ceiling, a stone floor, and a heavy iron door. And pitch blackness.
Curious, he got up and went to the front door. It was locked. He went around to all the windows, opening the curtains. There was glass but outside the glass was heavy boards. They built this house and boarded it up, I wonder what people think about it, if they know it exists... He assumed he was somewhere deep in the forest. He couldn't be anywhere near Hogsmeade, could he? Surely not...
He returned to the living room and pulled out the book he had brought, knowing he had a little while for the sun to set and the moon to rise. He read for about ten minutes then put his book aside to explore the house again. He was the only one who'd be in there so it just baffled him to no end why they put so much effort into making it look like a real home. There was a linen cupboard, dishes in the cupboards, just small details that made no sense. It made his head hurt a bit.
Finally he returned to the living room and read until the moon started pulling at him. He put the book away and went upstairs, putting his bag in the wardrobe and then taking off all his clothes, putting them in the wardrobe as well. Naked and shivering from the chill, he padded back down the stairs, hands cupped around his crotch even though he knew nobody else was there, nobody could see him. Then he put a blanket down on the floor of the living room and sat on, hugging his knees, shivering more, waiting. Even though he could feel the moon in the sky he had no idea if the clouds would be covering it or not. The times at home with a hidden moon were almost as bad as actually turning into a wolf. He was stuck in that pitch black, empty cellar room all night with nothing to do, too afraid to sleep.
Just as he wondered if there were clouds tonight, pain shot through his tiny body. He gave a scream as it felt like a volt of electricity spreading through all his limbs. He collapsed onto his back, crying out as the wolf took over. His nails sharpened and lengthened, and he dug his new claws into the blanket, into the floor. He kicked his feet has they twisted and morphed, his bones shifting, his bones growing. In some places the bones began pushing through the skin before the rest of his body could change. Bones began growing out of the base of his back, muscles and skin growing around it as his tail appeared. Fur rippled across his bare skin, blood matting into it at some sections. His teeth went from human to wolf, the sharp ends cutting through his lips before his mouth could catch up to the transformation, pushing painfully out.
"Please... please...!" he cried, tears splashing out as his eyeballs began changing, drifting farther apart as his eye sockets pulled them from his skull changing shape. The pain should have been too great for him however he didn't pass out. He just screamed and writhed and convulsed and screamed even more until his screams turned into a howl, and the wolf took over.